New guinea impatiens plant named &#39;danhardaror&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Danhardaror’ characterized by having large, round, dark lavender flowers, containing a red eye in the center; green leaves; highly branched; and a compact, round growth habit.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Impatiens hawkeri

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Danhardaror’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Danhardaror’. The genus of Impatiens belongs to the Balsaminacea family.

The new Impatiens cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Impatiens variety with large, round, dark lavender flowers containing a red eye in the center, green leaves and a compact growth habit.

‘Danhardaror’ originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the Inventor in 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Impatiens hawkeri cultivar designated ‘A-616’ (unpatented) and is characterized by having round, lavender flowers and a compact growth habit. The male parent is the Impatiens hawkeri cultivar designated ‘H-313’ (unpatented) and is characterized by having large, round flowers in a salmon color and a compact growth habit. ‘Danhardaror’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor in June of 2002 as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by leaf cuttings. The cuttings are from an apical bud that has no more than two expanded leaves and three to four immature leaves present. Asexual reproduction of ‘Danhardaror’ was first performed in December of 2001 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Danhardaror’ which in combination distinguish this Impatiens as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large, round flowers;

2. Dark lavender flower color;

3. Green leaves;

4. Highly branched; and

5. Compact and round growth habit.

Plants of the new Impatiens cultivar ‘Danhardaror’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘A-616’ (unpatented) and ‘H-313’ (unpatented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1: TABLE 1 Female Parent New Cultivar ‘A-616’ Male Parent Trait ‘Danhardaror’ (unpatented) ‘H-313’ (unpatented) Color of fully Purple group: Purple group: Red group: opened petals RHS N78B RHS N78C RHS 43D (upper surface): Leaf size Length: 12 cm Length: 10 cm Length: 11 cm Width: 2.5 cm Width: 3 cm Width: 3.5 cm Plant height 18 cm 19 cm 18 cm

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present Inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Impatiens cultivar ‘Danhardaror’ is the Impatiens cultivar ‘Danhardalil’, described in allowed U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/846,635. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, plants of ‘Danhardaror’ differed from plants of ‘Danhardalil’ in the following characteristics described in Table 2: TABLE 2 New Cultivar Comparison Cultivar Trait ‘Danhardaror’ ‘Danhardalil’ Size of flower  7 cm  8 cm Plant height 18 cm 15 cm Flower center Small, red-purple eye. Small, white eye. color Red-Purple Group: White Group: RHS 67B RHS 155D

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens cultivar ‘Danhardaror’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of the ‘Danhardaror’.

The first photograph shows a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Danhardaror’ in a 12 to 13 c.m. pot, at 15 weeks of age. The second photograph shows a close-up view of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘Danhardaror’ at 15 weeks of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘Danhardaror’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Impatiens cultivar ‘Danhardaror’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘Danhardaror’ were grown in a greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 25° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘Danhardaror’ were fertilized up to a level of 100 ppm N, 35 ppm P and 120 ppm K.

Color references are made with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The photographs and descriptions were taken during the winter when outdoor day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. and outdoor night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. The age of the plants described is 15 weeks.

p0 Classification:

-   -   -   Botanical.—Impatiens hawkeri.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Impatiens hawkeri cultivar designated             ‘A-616’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Impatiens hawkeri cultivar designated ‘H-313’             (unpatented).

-   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Leaf cutting.         -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—Summer: 7 to 10 days             at 25° C. Winter: 10 to 15 days at 21° C.         -   Time and temperature to produce a rooted cutting or             liner.—Summer: 15 to 18 days at 25° C. Winter: 18 to 21 days             at 21° C.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fibrous roots, adventitious             roots from cutting base.

-   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Round and compact.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Very good branching.         -   Growth rate.—3 months from rooted plant to a finished             product in 12 to 13 cm pots.         -   Plant height.—18 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—30 cm.

-   Lateral branches:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—4 main branches that split to 9             secondary branches, (every node splits to 2 to 3 secondary             branches).         -   Length.—10 to 12 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 to 1.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—5 to 6 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, very stable.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Grey-brown group: RHS N199B. Lower             surface: Yellow-green group: RHS 146A.

-   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Lanceolate to ovate.         -   Shape at apex.—Attenuate.         -   Shape at base.—Acuminate.         -   Length.—12 cm.         -   Width.—2.5 cm.         -   Margin.—Ciliate.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Color of mature (developed) leaf.—Upper surface: Green, RHS             137A. Lower surface: Green, RHS 138B.         -   Color of immature (expanding) leaf.—Upper surface: Green,             RHS 137A. Lower surface: Green, RHS 138B.         -   Venation pattern.—Midrib with secondary veins. Pinnate, only             lower surface.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface (midrib): Yellow-green, RHS             145C. Lower surface (midrib): Yellow-green, RHS 147C,             Secondary veins: Yellow-green RHS 147B.         -   Petiole length.—1 cm.         -   etiole diameter.—2 mm.         -   Petiole color.—Upper surface: Greyed-red, RHS 181C. Lower             surface: Greyed-red, RHS 180C.

-   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single flowers raised above the             foliage. The corolla consists of five petals.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowers at any day length. All             year round in a greenhouse environment. Flowering is             continuous from spring until fall in an outdoor garden.         -   Flowering response.—12 weeks after planting of rooted             cuttings.         -   Quantity of flowers.—The number of blooms is about 25 to 30             flowers per mature plant, 3 months old at any given time.         -   Post production longevity.—Up to six months.         -   Fragrance (if any).—None.

-   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Single.         -   Shape.—Round.         -   Length.—7 cm.         -   Width.—7 cm.         -   Depth.—3 mm.         -   Color.—Purple Purple group, RHS N78B.

-   Buds:     -   -   Rate of opening (from showing color to fully open             flower).—10 to 14 days.         -   Length (showing color, before opening).—2 cm.         -   Diameter.—At Apex: 0.5 cm At Base: 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Color.—Purple Group, RHS N78B.

-   Petals:     -   -   Quantity and arrangement per flower.—5 Petals. The dorsal             petal is free. The lateral petals are fused in pairs.         -   Banner petal length.—3.5 cm.         -   Lateral and base petal length.—3.5 cm.         -   Banner petal width.—5 cm.         -   Banner lateral and base petals.—3 cm.         -   Overall shape.—Round.         -   Shape at apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Obcordate.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Color of opening petals.—Upper surface: Purple group: RHS             N78B. Base color: Red-purple group: RHS 67A. Lower surface:             Purple group: RHS N78C. Base color: Red-purple group: RHS             67B.         -   Color of fully opened petals.—Upper surface: Purple group:             RHS N78B. Base color: Red-purple group: RHS 67A. Lower             surface: Purple group, RHS N78C. Base color: Red-purple             group, RHS 67B.

-   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—2.         -   Length.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 5 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Oblong.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 63B, red-purple group Lower             surface: RHS 63A, red-purple group.

-   Spur:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—One.         -   Length.—5.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—At apex: 1 mm. At flower: 3 mm.         -   Aspect.—40° to 45° from peduncle.         -   Color of spur.—Towards base: Red-purple group, RHS 58A.             Towards apex: Green group, RHS 142A.

-   Peduncles:     -   -   Appearance and angle.—Erect 90° from corolla.         -   Length.—5.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Strength.—Stable, flexible.         -   Color.—Greyed-purple group, RHS 1 84B.

-   Reproductive organs:

-   Androecium:     -   -   tamen quantity per flower.—There are five stamens with             introrse anthers that are more or less fused and form a cap             over the ovary.         -   Filament.—No filament.         -   Anther shape.—Cap shape.         -   Anther length.—0.3 mm.         -   Anther color.—White group, RHS 155A.         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant amount.         -   Pollen color.—White group, RHS 155D.

-   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil quantity of per flower.—One.         -   Pistil length.—3 mm.         -   Stigma Shape.—Round.         -   Stigma color.—Green-yellow group, RHS 1 D.         -   Style length.—No distinct style.         -   Ovary color.—Yellow-Green group, RHS 144D.

-   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity.—About 10 to 15 seeds per fruit.         -   Length.—2 mm.         -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Texture.—Puberulous.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange group, RHS 17A.

-   Fruit:     -   -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—Green group, RHS 143 C.

-   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available.

-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available.

-   Low temperature tolerance: Very sensitive to temperatures below 10°     C. 

1. A new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Danhardaror’, as illustrated and described herein. 